Method of sampling



R. E. CARMiCHAEL.

METHOD OF SAMPLING.

APPLICATION map DEC. 1. 19:9.

Patented July 2%, 1925).

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

@QQQQQ R. E. CARMlCHAEL.

METHOD OF SAMPLING. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 1, 1919.

1 9 4 9 9 u Rimmed July 21}, 1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

ROB11E..LAWF1|C.HAE L, Svwewboz wow;

ROBERT E. CARMICHAEL, OF DAMON, TEXAS.

METHOD or SAMPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 20, 1920.

Application filed December 1, 1919. Serial No. 341,667.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT E. CAR- MICHAEL, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Damon, Brazoria county, Texas, have invented acertain new and useful Improvement in Methods of Sampling, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame. 1

My invention relates to an improvement in methods of obtaining samplesof the material being drilled in the boring of wells for water, oil,sulfur, etc., in earth, rock and other similar formations.

In the boring of wells in deep strata, and especially in a formationhaving lateral fissures and crevices therein, it is impossible with anordinary drill to obtain complete samples of the material. It has beenfound that the cuttings from the drill will find an outlet laterallyinto the crevices of the strata and very little will be brought to thesurface. It is hence necessary where a log of a well is to be obtainedto use a core bit and to conduct the broken pieces of the core upwardlyin the drill stem to the surface.

An object of my invention is to provide a method of operating anordinary bit where-' by the cuttings from the bit will be carried up tothe surface with sufficient force to prevent the entrance of the sameinto the side crevices and caverns in the strata andto conduct them tothe surface. Further objects and advantages will appear in thedescription which follows.

Referring to the drawings forming a part of this specification andwherein like numerals are applied to like parts throughout the views,Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section through the lower part of thedrill stem to be used with my invention and showing the bit inelevation; Fig. 2 is a central lon itudinal section through the swivelused with this device, and Fig. 3 is a side elevation, certain partsbeing broken away to show the manner of assembling the apparatus used inmy invention.

In the carrying out of my invention I contemplate employing any ordinarydrill bit such as is now in use. This bit may be a rock bit or anordinary fish tail bit, such as is shown in Figs. 1 and 3. This bit 1 isattached to a length of drill stem 2 of ordinary constructi n by meansof an attaching drill practically collar or coupling 3. The upper end ofthe length of drill stem 2 is threaded externally for attachment to thelower end of a compound coupling 4 which is enlarged at the upper endand threaded interiorly at 5 for attachment to an outer pipe 6. On theinner edge of the upper face of the compound coupling is an annularrecess 7 forming a seat for a downwardly projecting flange 8 on thelower end of an upper extension 9 of the drill stem. This outer pipe 6and drill stem 9 extend upwardly to the surface of the ground and aresupported at their upper ends in the usual swivel block 10 which issuspended by means of a bail 11 to the traveling block 12 in the derrick13.

As shown in Fig. 2 the outer pipe 6 is secured at its upper end to ablock 14 which rests rotatably upon the swivel block 10 and is separatedtherefrom by means of roller bearings 15. Immediately below the swivelblock is a second swivel connection 16 com prising an outersleeve'resting at its lower end upon a bearing ring 17 fixed to the pipeby means of a set screw 18. The pipe 6 and the ring 17 are adapted torotate while the sleeve .16 is held stationary thereon. The usualstufiing box 19 maintains the upper and lower ends of the sleeve 16 influid tight connection with the inner rotating pipe 6. An inlet nipple20 is formed on one side of the sleeve to provide a threaded interiorattachment at 21 for an air pipe 32 leading to an air compressor, notshown. Air entering by means of this opening into the chamber 22 insidethe sleeve 16 will be allowed entrance into the pipe 6 through a seriesof openings 23 in the rotating pipe 6.

The upper end of the pipe 9 is supported rotatably upon the cap 24 onthe top of the pipe 6. A hearing member 25 fixed to the pipe 9 serves asa support resting on the upper end of the cap 2%. A stuffing box 26furnishes a fluid tight connection between the inner and outer pipes inan obvious manner. The upper end of the pipe 9 is adapted to be suppliedwith fluid through a pipe 27 connecting the same with a pump showndiagrammatically at 28.

The upper end of the well in the use of I my invention is preferablyprovided with an outer casing 38 which fits tightly within the well andsupports the upper walls thereof. The top of this casing has a watertight fit around the upper end of the outer .pipe 6 and has a branchinglateral ducts the flushing water.

pipe 29 leading to a receptacle adapted to receive the cuttings from thebit.

In the operation of my invention the pipes 6 and 9 are rotated by meansof the usual rotary 30, shown diagrammatically in Fig. 3. The upper endof the interior pipe issupplied with water from the pumps through thepipe 27 and the upper swivel connections. The current of water passesdownwardly throu h the pipes 9 and 2 to the upper shank of the bit andis delivered through channels 31 against the bottom of the hole, servinto flush away the material from the bit. i current of air from an aircompressor is also pumped in through the lateral pipe 32 by means of theswivel connection 16 through the o enings 23 into the outer pipe andpasses ownwardly to the lower coupling 4 and then through a series ofperforations 33 into the ipe which conrom thence it is carried down bythe strong current of water-through the channels 31 in the bit andbubbles up outside of the drill stem to the surface, thus forming an airlift for the mixture of the flushing water and cuttings from the bit.This causes a strong upward current carrying with it all the particlesof matter cut away by the action of the drill. The stream of water andsuspended cuttings passes out through the upper casing 28 and thelateral branching pipe 29 into a receptacle where the cuttings may bepreserved.

The idea of usin an air lift to raise cuttings in a core drill upwardlyand deliver the same at the surface is not thou ht to be new and claimis not made broad y to the use of air for the purpose of raising thecuttings to the surface. My invention involves the use of any ordina bitnow used in well drilling and providing outside of the drill stem a pipeconcentric therewith and of pumping air under pressure through the outerpipe and discharging itinto the inner pipe at a point toward the bottomof the hole. I find that if the water is pumped downwardly through thedrill stem at some velocit and then the air is forced inwardly througperforations in the drill stem toward the lower end thereof that the airwill be carried downwardly by the water current through the channels ofthe bit so as to bubble up outside of the bit instead of rising upthrough the central passage in the drill stem. And when the air is thusdischarged through the bit the upward current of combined air, water andcuttings is so strong as to prevent the loss of any of the material inthe lateral fissures in the strata. After the current has once beenstarted in this manner the pressure upon the pumps may be greatlyreduced and the action of the combined stream of Water and air willcontinue with the same efliciency as before, thus enabling the drillerto obtain the entire log of the well.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is:

1. A method of raising the cuttingsfrom an earth boring drill to thesurface comprising forcing a stream of flushing liquid downwardlythrough the drill stem and through channels in the bit to the bottom ofthe hole, forcing downwardly outside of the drill stem a current ofcompressed air, forcing the same into the drill stem toward the lowerend thereof and causing the air to pass downwardly through the bit tounite with the flushing liquid and lift the cuttings and flushingmaterial to the surface outside said drill and drill stem.

2. A method of raising the cuttings from an earth borin drill to thesurface comprising the forclng of air and flushing liquid downwardlythrough the drill stem and bit, discharging the same into the bottom ofthe hole and thus causing a strong upward current of air and liquid inthe hole.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my ROBERT E. CARMICHAEL.

